Rabbi Ashi said, "He who hardens his heart with pride, softens his
brains with the same."
Rabbi Joshua said "Meekness is better than sacrifice"; for is it not
written, "The sacrifices of God are a broken heart--a broken contrite
spirit, Thou, oh Lord, will not despise?"
The son of Rabbi Hunnah said, "He who possesses a knowledge of God's
law, without the fear of Him, is as one who has been intrusted with the
inner keys of a treasury, but from whom the outer ones are withheld."
Rabbi Alexander said, "He who possesses worldly wisdom and fears not the
Lord, is as one who designs building a house and completes only the
door, for as David wrote in Psalm 111th, 'The beginning of wisdom is the
fear of the Lord.'"
When Rabbi Jochanan was ill, his pupils visited him and asked him for a
blessing. With his dying voice the Rabbi said, "I pray that you may fear
God as you fear man." "What!" exclaimed his pupils, "should we not fear
God more than man?"
"I should be well content," answered the sage, "if your actions proved
that you feared Him as much. When you do wrong you first make sure that
no human eyes see you; show the same fear of God, who sees everywhere,
and everything, at all times."
Abba says we can show our fear of God in our intercourse with one
another. "Speak pleasantly and kindly to everyone"; he says, "trying to
pacify anger, seeking peace, and pursuing it with your brethren and with
all the world, and by this means you will gain that 'favor and good
understanding in the sight of God and man,' which Solomon so highly
prized."
Rabbi Jochanan had heard Rabbi Simon, son of Jochay, illustrate by a
parable that passage of Isaiah which reads as follows: "I, the Lord,
love uprightness; but hate robbery (converted) into burnt-offering."
A king having imported certain goods upon which he laid a duty, bade his
officers, as they passed the custom-house, to stop and pay the usual
tariff.
Greatly astonished, his attendants addressed him thus: "Sire! all that
is collected belongs to your majesty; why then give what must be
eventually paid into thy treasury?"
"Because," answered the monarch, "I wish travelers to learn from the
action I now order you to perform, how abhorrent dishonesty is in my
eyes."
Rabbi Eleazer said: "He who is guided by righteousness and justice in
all his doings, may justly be asserted to have copied God in His
unbounded beneficence. For of Him (blessed be His name) we read, 'He
loveth righteousness and justice'; that is, 'The earth is filled with
the loving kindness of God.'" Might we think that to follow such a
course is an easy task? No! The virtue of beneficence can be gained only
by great efforts. Will it be difficult, however, for him that has the
fear of God constantly before his eyes to acquire this attribute? No; he
will easily attain it, whose every act is done in the fear of the Lord.
"A crown of grace is the hoary head; on the way of righteousness can it
be found."
So taught Solomon in his Proverbs. Hence various Rabbis, who had
attained an advanced age, were questioned by their pupils as to the
probable cause that had secured them that mark of divine favor. Rabbi
Nechumah answered that, in regard to himself, God had taken cognizance
of three principles by which he had endeavored to guide his conduct.
First, he had never striven to exalt his own standing by lowering that
of his neighbor. This was agreeable to the example set by Rabbi Hunna,
for the latter, while bearing on his shoulders a heavy spade, was met by
Rabbi Choana Ben Chanilai, who, considering the burden derogatory to the
dignity of so great a man, insisted upon relieving him of the implement
and carrying it himself. But Rabbi Hunna refused, saying, "Were this
your habitual calling I might permit it, but I certainly shall not
permit another to perform an office which, if done by myself, may be
looked upon by some as menial."
Secondly, he had never gone to his night's rest with a heart harboring
ill-will against his fellow-man, conformably with the practice of Mar
Zutra, who, before sleeping, offered this prayer: "O Lord! forgive all
those who have done me injury."
Thirdly, he was not penurious, following the example of the righteous
Job, of whom the sages relate that he declined to receive the change due
him after making a purchase.
Another Rabbi bearing also the name of Nechumah, replied to Rabbi Akiba,
that he believed himself to have been blessed with long life because, in
his official capacity, he had invariably set his face against accepting
presents, mindful of what Solomon wrote, "He that hateth gifts will
live." Another of his merits he conceived to be that of never resenting
an offense; mindful of the words of Rabba, "He who is indulgent toward
others' faults, will be mercifully dealt with by the Supreme Judge."
Rabbi Zera said that the merit of having reached an extreme age was in
his case due, under Providence, to his conduct through life. He governed
his household with mildness and forbearance. He refrained from advancing
an opinion before his superiors in wisdom. He avoided rehearsing the
word of God in places not entirely free from uncleanliness. He wore the
phylacteries all day, that he might be reminded of his religious duties.
He did not make the college where sacred knowledge is taught, a place of
convenience, as, for instance, to sleep there, either occasionally or
habitually. He never rejoiced over the downfall of a fellow-mortal, nor
would he designate another by a name objectionable to the party
personally, or to the family of which he was a member.
* * * * *
"Three friends," said the Rabbis, "has man. God, his father, and his
mother. He who honors his parents honors God."
Rabbi Judah said, "Known and revealed are the ways of man. A mother
coaxes a child with kind words and gentle ways, gaining honor and
affection; therefore, the Bible says, 'Honor thy father,' before 'honor
thy mother.' But in regard to fearing, as the father is the preceptor of
the child, teaching it the law, the Bible says, 'Every man shall fear
his mother,' before the word 'father.'"
Rabbi Ulah was once asked, "How extended should be this honor due to
parents?"